Do the Right Thing

Mookie is introduced as a young man living in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. He navigates life while working as a pizza delivery man at Sal's Pizzeria, showcasing the challenges he faces within his community.

Salvatore 'Sal' Frangione runs Sal's Pizzeria, an establishment he has operated for twenty-five years. The pizzeria serves the predominantly black community, setting up the tangled dynamics between the characters.

Tension arises in the shop as Sal's son, Pino, displays blatant racism towards the neighborhood’s black residents. This creates friction between him and Mookie, who shares a more respectful relationship with Sal's younger son, Vito.

On an especially hot summer day, the neighborhood is alive with various characters coping with the heat. The vibrant setting showcases the community's spirit as well as the individual struggles of its residents.

Radio Raheem, known for blasting Public Enemy's 'Fight the Power,' represents the battle between love and hate. His boombox serves not just as entertainment but as a symbol of the community's ongoing struggle.

Buggin' Out passionately discusses civil rights and advocates for the inclusion of black celebrities on Sal's 'Wall of Fame.' His fervor for social justice sets off a chain of events that escalate tensions in the community.

Buggin' Out directly confronts Sal about the Wall of Fame, arguing that it overlooks the black clientele that supports the pizzeria. Sal stands firm in his heritage, rejecting the request and deepening the divide.

Despite Mookie's efforts to mediate, tensions continue to rise as Buggin' Out calls for a boycott of Sal's Pizzeria. While many in the community express loyalty to Sal, the atmosphere grows increasingly antagonistic.

The situation reaches a boiling point when Radio Raheem and Buggin' Out enter Sal's demanding changes while playing loud music. This act escalates into violence when Sal destroys Raheem's boombox, igniting a heated face-off.

In the chaos that ensues outside Sal's after the confrontation, police arrive and attempt to arrest Radio Raheem. Tragically, he dies from a chokehold, sparking outrage among the watching crowd.

Mookie, fueled by anger and grief over Raheem's death, throws a trash can through Sal's window, igniting a riot among the community. The event escalates as the crowd wreaks havoc on the pizzeria and the surrounding area.

As the mob destroys Sal's establishment, tensions within the community are laid bare. Firefighters and police clash with rioters, symbolizing the societal fractures that have been building within the neighborhood.

The morning after the chaos, Mookie encounters Sal amidst the ruins of his pizzeria. Their confrontation reveals deep-seated resentment, yet they ultimately find a semblance of understanding about their complicated relationship.

In the film's poignant closing moments, the radio host reflects on the loss of Radio Raheem and the meaning of violence in the struggle for justice. Quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X resonate, leaving viewers to contemplate these themes.